W. Cooper Jarnagin Attorney At Law

Cooper is a Florida Bar Board Certified Admiralty and Maritime lawyer who focuses his practice on admiralty claims and litigation. He represents the world's largest cruise lines in high-exposure maritime passenger and crewmember claims alleging medical malpractice, sexual assault, over-service, wrongful death, unsafe workplace, deficient provision of maintenance and cure, and personal injury.

Cooper also has experience in the recreational marine sector handling property damage and personal injury claims. This includes litigating limitation of liability actions on behalf of vessel owners, providing counsel in marine insurance coverage matters, and defending vessel repairers in breach of warranty actions.

Throughout his career, Cooper has handled initial investigation of incidents, written discovery, taking and defending depositions, dispositive motion practice, trial preparation, and appeals. His experience includes assisting in defense of over 250 passenger claims following an engine room fire and defense of a class action alleging unpaid wages.  

• Background

  Cooper graduated from Florida State University in 2011 with a bachelor of science in communication. Subsequently, he earned his juris doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law where he graduated cum laude.

• Education
  • Florida State University, B.S., Communications (2011)
    • Dean’s List
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (cum laude, 2015)
    • Dean’s List
    • Book Award in Legal Research and Communication
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (pro hac vice)
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• Professional Associations and Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
    • Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club
  • Florida Bar Admiralty Committee
    • Steering Committee Member for Florida Maritime Law and Practice, Seventh Edition
  • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
  
  
• Presentations and Seminars
  • "The Eleventh Circuit’s Yusko Opinion and the Cases That Have Followed," Florida Bar Admiralty Law Committee Winter Meeting, January 28, 2022
• Media
  • "Carnival Door Injury Suit Can Be Refiled, Florida Judge Says," Law360, March 24, 2023